Occupant-driven open wheel device

ABSTRACT

An occupant-driven open gyral wheel has an outwardly curved transverse riding surface and a pair of circular tracks formed by bosses projecting from the inside surface of the open wheel. A pair of foot skates is provided that has skate wheels with concave surfaces for riding on the circular tracks, and has holding means operably connected to the skate wheels to allow the skate wheels to only move backwards with respect to their circular tracks. The foot skates have guide members positioned within alignment slots in the open wheel, and each foot skate has a frame member and a runner member hingedly connected together at their forward ends. The open gyral wheel can be moved forward, steered and braked by the occupant when positioned vertically on the ground.

United States Patent Primary Examiner Kenneth H. Betts Altorney-l. Robert Mednick ABSTRACT: An occupant-driven open gyral wheel has an outwardly curved transverse riding surface and a pair of circular tracks formed by bosses projecting from the inside surface of the open wheel. A pair of foot skates is provided that has skate wheels with concave surfaces for riding on the circular tracks, and has holding means operably connected to the skate wheels to allow the skate wheels to only move backwards with respect to their circular tracks. The foot skates have guide members positioned within alignment slots in the open wheel, and each foot skate has a frame member and a runner member hingedly connected together at their forward ends. The open gyral wheel can be moved forward, steered and braked by the occupant when positioned vertically on the ground.

PATENTEDN 23 3. 822.179

SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR. WINFRED C PFERSICK BY @MW ATTORNEY PATENTEDNDV 2 3 l9?! SHEET 2 OF 2 INVLNTOR WINFRED c. PFERSICK BY QM W ATTORNEY OCGUlPANT-DRIVEN OPEN WHEEL DEVICE This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 794,843 filed Jan. 24, 1969, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to an occupant-driven open wheel device, and more particularly relates to an occupantdriven open wheel device with skates to enable the occupant to control the operation thereof.

It is an object of this invention to device that is designed to for an occupant thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an occupantdriven open wheel device having skates that allow an occupant to control and drive the wheel device to move at high or low speeds, and to brake it when desired.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an occupant-driven open wheel device wherein its occupant will have his arms free to aid in balancing during the operation of the wheel device.

A further object of this invention is to provide an occupantdriven open wheel device that can be effectively steered or turned during its operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an occupant-driven open wheel device that is relatively simple and economical to construct and being easy to operate and control.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description considered with the accompanying drawings in which an embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

FIG. I is a side elevational view of an occupant-driven wheel device incorporating the present invention and showing it in operable position.

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the wheel device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of one of the foot skates utilized in the occupant-driven wheel device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one of the foot skates operably positioned on the gyral wheel as seen along lines 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a still further enlarged view of the wheel assembly of the foot skate utilized in the shown embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the figures, the wheel device of this invention is seen to include an open gyral wheel generally indicated by the reference numeral 10, and a pair of foot skates generally indicated by the reference numerals 11 and 12. As seen in FIG. 1, 2 and 3, gyral wheel is a circular structure and is sufiiciently large and rigid to encircle and support an occupant 13 therein. Gyral wheel 10 has an outwardly curved transverse riding surface 14 as seen in the end view of FIG. 2. Curved riding surface 14 preferably includes a resilient rubber casing or tire 15 fitted within a cutout portion 16 of gyral wheel 10 and extending over the entire periphery thereof. A circular skate track 17 is formed by a pair of skate bosses 17a and 17b projecting from the inner surface 18 ofgyral wheel 10 on one side thereof. Another circular skate track 19 is formed by a pair of skate bosses 19a and 19b projecting from the inner surface 18 of gyral wheel 10 on the other side thereof. Circular tracks 17 and 19 are of like construction. A recessed portion 20 is provided between these tracks 17 and 19. An alignment slot 17' is provided along the outer side ofskate boss 17a of circular truck 17; and an alignment slot 19' is provided nlong the outer side of skate boss 19!) of circular track 19. These alignment slots 17' and 19' accommodate skate guide members as hereinafter described.

provide an open wheel provide entertainment and exercise Adapted to ride on the circular tracks 17 and 19 formed on the inside surface 18 of wheel 10 are the pair of similar foot skates 11 and 12. Skates 11 and 12 and its parts are identical in construction to each other except that one skate is adapted to be worn on the left foot, and the other skate is adapted to be worn on the right foot. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side view of one of the skates 11 which includes frame member 21 and a runner member 22. Frame member 21 is seen to have a front foot support member 23a and a heel support member 23b secured to a base 24. Front foot support member 23a and heel support member 23b are suitably designed to allow a person to releasably secure his foot therein. Runner member 22 includes a platform 25 hingedly secured to base 24 by hinge 26 at the forward ends thereof. As seen also in FIG. 5, platform 25 holds a suspension bracket 27 carrying fixedly positioned wheel shaft 28, and also holds another suspension bracket 29 carrying fixedly positioned wheel shaft 30.

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown therein an enlarged view of a skate wheel assembly showing wheel shaft 28 and one of wheels 31 which is typical of the other wheel assemblies. Skate wheel 31 as the other skate wheels is seen to have a concave outer riding surface 32 to match and therefor be guided by projecting boss 17a of track 17 when riding thereon as shown in FIG. 5. A toothed ratchet wheel 33 is keyed to shaft 28 by key member 33a. Ratchet wheel 33 is positioned between bearings 34a and 34b attached to shaft 28 to rotatively support said skate wheel 31. A pawl 35 with its engaging spring 35' has one end 35a fixedly secured to said skate wheel 31 within its central recess 36 inside skate wheel 31 by screw 37, and has its other free engaging end 35b dropping in the tooth spaces of ratchet wheel 33. Accordingly, said skate wheel 31 can only rotate on skate 28 in one direction indicated by arrow 38. Said toothed ratchet wheel 33 and its coacting spring-supported pawl 35 together with similar ratchet wheels and pawls in the other skate wheels 31 of foot skates 11 and 12 provide the holding means for allowing foot skates 11 and 12 to only move backwards with respect to the circular tracks 17 and 19. An end cap 39 fits over the inner side opening of said skate wheel 31. Retainer rings 40a and 40b fit in shaft recesses 41a and 41b respectively on both sides of skate wheel 31 to hold it in position. Another skate wheel is so assembled on shaft 28, and the skate wheels on shaft 30 are similarly assembled.

As seen in Flg. 5, each skate has two guide members extending therefrom and being positioned within the alignment slots in gyral wheel 10 to align each skate with their respective bosses projecting from the gyral wheel. Skate I1 is typical and has two guide members seen to be rollers 42 rotatable at the ends of brackets 43 secured on opposite sides of platform 25 in between wheels 31. Rollers 42 are positioned within the alignment slots such as slots 17' and 19 and they do not contact gyral wheel 10 when skate wheels 31 ride on the tracks formed by its boss projections, but will guide the return of said skate wheels when they are lifted off their tracks.

In order to operate the open wheel device of this invention, gyral wheel 10 will initially be held vertically on the ground as seen in the figures. Due to gravity, its foot skates l1 and 12 will then freely roll on its circular tracks 17 and 19 to their lowest position at the bottom of gyral wheel 10. The person 13 operating the wheel device will occupy the same by inserting his feet in support members 23a and 23b of skates 11 and 12 with his body in standing position inside open wheel 10.

The occupant will then raise one skate to clear its track and move it forward guided by its guide members 42 extending from brackets 43 to a higher position on its track. In this position, the rear end of frame member 21 will move away from runner member 22 as seen in FIG. 1 to enable the forwarddirected foot to be conveniently raised. Thereupon the occupant will shift his weight forward and press down on the raised skate causing it to engage its track and roll backwards thereon towards said bottom position. Gyral wheel 10 will then be moved and begin to rotate in a forward direction with the occupant maintaining his upright position. The occupant will 3 then raise the other skate and make another similar forward stride to repeat this movement. Thereafter, the occupant can alternately raise one foot then the other to continue the described action. The occupant this continues to make forward strides as in walking and then rolling back causing the open wheel device to roll in a forward direction. It will be realized that the rolling speed can be varied by the occupant by changing his so-called walking movement when operating the wheel device by changing the length and rate of his forwardmoving strides.

ln order to steer the open wheel device, the occupant will increase the length of his forward stride of one foot and decrease it on the other. Gyral wheel will then turn on its curved transverse riding surface 14 towards the side of the increases stride in order to turn gyral wheel 10 in that direction. It will be noted that the arms of the occupant 13 are free to assist in shifting his weight to further aid in propelling and turning the rotating gyral wheel. When the occupant desires to stop the gyral wheel then he will stop his forward strides. As the skate wheels are then locked since they cannot rotate forward with respect to their circular tracks, the weight of the occupant will press down on the circular tracks and oppose the forward movement of the gyral wheel and bring it to a stop.

It will be realized that with suitable practice, an occupant will be able to propel the open gyral wheel in a forward direction at varying desired speeds, to steer it in either direction and further to stop or brake the open gyral wheel in order to provide for his enjoyment, sport, or exercise.

Having herein described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An occupant-driven open wheel device comprising:

an open gyral wheel large enough to accommodate an operator to stand upright therein when the gyral wheel is placed vertically on the ground,

said gyral wheel having an outwardly curved transverse riding surface, and two pairs of skate bosses projecting from the inside surface thereof; and

a pair of foot skates,

each foot skate having four skate wheels with concave outer riding surfaces to engage one pair of the skate bosses on the inside surface of said gyral wheel to ride thereon, and each foot skate having holding means operably connected to its skate wheels to prevent them from rotating in one direction whereby the foot skate when engaging the skate bosses can only move backwards with respect thereto.

2. The wheel device of claim 1 wherein each of said foot skates includes a runner member carrying said four skate wheels, and a frame member for releasably securing the foot of the occupant, and wherein said frame member is hingedly connected to the runner member at the forward ends thereof to allow the occupant to move the rear end of the frame member away from the runner member.

3. The wheel device of claim 2 wherein said gyral wheel has alignment slots formed therein, and wherein the foot skates have guide member extending therefrom and being positioned within the alignment slots to align the foot skates with their 4 respective skate bosses of the gyral wheel.

4. An occupant-driven open wheel device comprising: an open gyral wheel large enough to accommodate an operator to stand upright therein when the gyral wheel is placed vertically on the ground, said gyral wheel having an outwardly curved resilient transverse riding surface, and two pairs of skate bosses projecting from the inside surface thereof forming a pair of circular skate tracks; and a pair of foot skates,

each foot skate having four skate wheels with concave outer riding surfaces matching the contour of the skate bosses in order to ride on the circular skate track formed thereby, and each foot skate having holding means including a pawl and a ratchet wheel operably connected thereto to prevent the skate wheel rom rotating in more than one direction whereby the foot skate when engaging the skate bosses can only move backwards with respect thereto.

5. The wheel device of claim 4 wherein each of said foot skates includes a runner member carrying said four skate wheels, and a frame member for releasably securing the foot of the occupant, and wherein said frame member is hingedly connected to the runner member at the forward ends thereof to allow the occupant to move the rear end of the frame member away from the runner member.

6. The wheel device of claim 4 wherein said gyral wheel has alignment slots formed therein, and wherein the foot skates have guide member extending therefrom and being positioned within the alignment slots to align the foot skates with their respective skate bosses of the gyral wheel.

7. An occupant-driven open wheel device comprising:

an open gyral wheel large enough to accommodate an operator to stand upright therein when the gyral wheel is placed vertically on the ground,

said gyral wheel having an outer riding surface, and bosses projecting from its inner surface forming a pair of circular skate tracks; and

a pair of foot skates,

each foot skate having wheels to ride on one of said circular skate tracks, and

each foot skate having holding means operably connected to its skate wheels to prevent them from rotating in one direction.

8. The wheel device of claim 7 wherein each of said foot skates includes a runner member carrying said skate wheels, and a frame member for releasably securing the foot of the occupant, and wherein said frame member is hingedly connected to the runner member at the forward ends thereof to allow the occupant to move the rear end of the frame member away from the runner member.

9. The wheel device of claim 8 wherein said gyral wheel has alignment slots formed therein, and wherein the foot skates have guide members extending therefrom and being positioned within the alignment slots to align the foot skates with their respective skate bosses of the gyral wheel. 

1. An occupant-driven open wheel device comprising: an open gyral wheel large enough to accommodate an operator to stand upright therein when the gyral wheel is placed vertically on the ground, said gyral wheel having an outwardly curved transverse riding surface, and two pairs of skate bosses projecting from the inside surface thereof; and a pair of foot skates, each foot skate having four skate wheels with concave outer riding surfaces to engage one pair of thE skate bosses on the inside surface of said gyral wheel to ride thereon, and each foot skate having holding means operably connected to its skate wheels to prevent them from rotating in one direction whereby the foot skate when engaging the skate bosses can only move backwards with respect thereto.
 2. The wheel device of claim 1 wherein each of said foot skates includes a runner member carrying said four skate wheels, and a frame member for releasably securing the foot of the occupant, and wherein said frame member is hingedly connected to the runner member at the forward ends thereof to allow the occupant to move the rear end of the frame member away from the runner member.
 3. The wheel device of claim 2 wherein said gyral wheel has alignment slots formed therein, and wherein the foot skates have guide member extending therefrom and being positioned within the alignment slots to align the foot skates with their respective skate bosses of the gyral wheel.
 4. An occupant-driven open wheel device comprising: an open gyral wheel large enough to accommodate an operator to stand upright therein when the gyral wheel is placed vertically on the ground, said gyral wheel having an outwardly curved resilient transverse riding surface, and two pairs of skate bosses projecting from the inside surface thereof forming a pair of circular skate tracks; and a pair of foot skates, each foot skate having four skate wheels with concave outer riding surfaces matching the contour of the skate bosses in order to ride on the circular skate track formed thereby, and each foot skate having holding means including a pawl and a ratchet wheel operably connected thereto to prevent the skate wheel from rotating in more than one direction whereby the foot skate when engaging the skate bosses can only move backwards with respect thereto.
 5. The wheel device of claim 4 wherein each of said foot skates includes a runner member carrying said four skate wheels, and a frame member for releasably securing the foot of the occupant, and wherein said frame member is hingedly connected to the runner member at the forward ends thereof to allow the occupant to move the rear end of the frame member away from the runner member.
 6. The wheel device of claim 4 wherein said gyral wheel has alignment slots formed therein, and wherein the foot skates have guide member extending therefrom and being positioned within the alignment slots to align the foot skates with their respective skate bosses of the gyral wheel.
 7. An occupant-driven open wheel device comprising: an open gyral wheel large enough to accommodate an operator to stand upright therein when the gyral wheel is placed vertically on the ground, said gyral wheel having an outer riding surface, and bosses projecting from its inner surface forming a pair of circular skate tracks; and a pair of foot skates, each foot skate having wheels to ride on one of said circular skate tracks, and each foot skate having holding means operably connected to its skate wheels to prevent them from rotating in one direction.
 8. The wheel device of claim 7 wherein each of said foot skates includes a runner member carrying said skate wheels, and a frame member for releasably securing the foot of the occupant, and wherein said frame member is hingedly connected to the runner member at the forward ends thereof to allow the occupant to move the rear end of the frame member away from the runner member.
 9. The wheel device of claim 8 wherein said gyral wheel has alignment slots formed therein, and wherein the foot skates have guide members extending therefrom and being positioned within the alignment slots to align the foot skates with their respective skate bosses of the gyral wheel. 